Temporal variations of 90Sr and 137Cs concentrations and the 137Cs/90Sr activity ratio in marine brown algae, Undaria pinnatifida and Laminaria longissima, collected in coastal areas of Japan

The anthropogenic radionuclides, 90Sr and 137Cs, were measured in two marine algal species, wakame seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida) and edible kelp (Laminaria longissima), collected in four coastal areas of Japan during 1998-2008. Although 90Sr and 137Cs could be detected at all sampling sites, the concentrations of 90Sr and 137Cs were at low levels and those in some samples were below the detection limit. These low concentrations and the small variation of both concentrations and the 137Cs/90Sr activity ratio indicate that the source of 90Sr and 137Cs detected in this study originated from the global fallout deposition following atmospheric nuclear-bomb tests in the past. There were no significant differences in both concentrations of 90Sr and 137Cs in wakame seaweed among three sampling sites. Although wakame seaweed is extensively distributed in southern and central Japan, it does not occur in northern areas and so edible kelp was monitored. The concentrations of 90Sr and 137Cs in edible kelp were significantly different from those in wakame seaweed in some sampling sites. These differences could be due to the difference in the concentrations of 90Sr and 137Cs in the surrounding seawater or the difference in species. The combined data with data from the previous report and the preexisting database showed that wakame seaweed incorporated 137Cs through a different pathway from that of 90Sr. The combined data also suggested that wakame seaweed responded differently to the source of 137Cs.     

Technical Procedures for CDM Project Design

The success of CDM depends on active participation of public and private entities. In particular, participation of wide range of private companies is an important factor for the success. In order to promote the participation of private companies in the CDM project activities as project participants, the authors clarify the steps and technical issues involved in the CDM project design procedures in a step-by-step approach. The steps consist of outlining the project plans, identifying project impacts, defining a project boundary, estimating GHG emissions reduction/enhancement of removals, documenting the results of estimation, and designing of monitoring plans. The authors also propose guidance for project participants, especially for those not familiar with the CDM, which provides plain explanation of major technical issues. In order to further develop a complete guideline, it is necessary to integrate the outputs of the ongoing international initiatives concerning technical issues of CDM into the stepwise approach proposed in this paper. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identification of duchenne muscular dystrophy genomic probe P20 constant Taq1 fragment corresponding to the EcoRV and Msp1 polymorphisms

The majority of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy cases are caused by deletions observable in Southern blots with cDNA probes for the gene. When the deletion includes polymorphic probes, they may be used to determine carrier status by deletion segregation analysis: non-inheritance of parental alleles, or heterozygosity. The polymorphic genomic probe P20 is deleted in a large percentage of probands. P20 hybridizes with two constant fragments of 6.7 and 0.8 kb in Taql digests. In a number of probands, only the larger P20 Taq1 fragment is deleted. This study demonstrates that this fragment corresponds with the polymorphic EcoRV and Mspl fragments of P20. Families in which the upper Taql fragment is deleted may be screened for carrier status using non-inheritance of parental alleles or heterozygosity of P20 in EcoRV or Mspl digests.